Arian

"Where the fuck is she?", I yell at no one in particular. How could she even escape with all those cameras? That's impossible.

Frustrated, I grab a glass and smash it to the ground, creating a lake of water on the floor, but I couldn't give a shit less.

"Would you just calm down. This is leading nowhere.", Tristan has the audacity to say. This idiot always behaves like he is a coach for anything and I am just absolutely done with that. He read too many mediation books or stuff.

"You're the one that should shut up, or your other option is to fucking tell me where she is.", I hiss, slowly letting my breath escape my mouth. This all is making me as aggressive as seldom. Having her here, something we planned so long but still everything works out just like shit. I mean I am not even the perfectionist and idealist guy out of us here, that part is occupied by Tristan, but still I hate something not going as planned. And her running away from us successfully was not planned.

"We obviously don't know right now. If we did, we wouldn't be looking for her on all the screens like some idiots for sure. So, either you support us, or you fucking leave.", Tristan points at the door, maybe to emphasize his words, but in my opinion, it rather leaves him looking as a clown. Clearly, a red nose is missing, but the left appearance actually suits a clown.

"I found her.", Milan states. Those three words grab my attention immediately.

I wheel around to his position, asking passionately: "Where is she?"

"In the lower swimming hall. The cameras are broken since yesterday and were scheduled to be fixed tomorrow.", he observes casually as if he is talking about the weather.

"How did you find her without the cameras?", Tristan questions curiously.

"I scanned the whole house for the warmth of a human body.", Milan explains simply. Clever guy. He's kinda the brains in our group, maybe because he is not bloody related to us. "I'm honestly sorry to interrupt your technical exchange, okay I'm not, but it doesn't matter how we found her but that we found her. I'll go on from here to find her if you all don't mind.", I volunteer, or rather demand. I mean, I would not let anyone else do that part, and they all know that. Plus they know it is ridiculous to fight against me.

"I don't know whether that's a good idea. We need her back in a whole piece.", Tristan doubts. He and his doubts. He is the overthinker-perfectionist-I know everything-best parent-role in here. As if I am dismembering her. Actually, maybe it would get her some respect, but I don't want to use violence. Not yet at least.

"I've got this now.", I ensure, having them leave and the room being in a calm silence again.

With that, I make my way to the swimming pool. It's located in the lowest level.

I hurry through the halls, not seeing a single soul, until I reach the elevator.

Inside, I press 0, while waiting for the doors to close.

How did she even know about the swimming pool? Was it just luck? And why are especially the cameras in this room not working? Everything looks like Nora had help, but who could it have been? As far as I know, Nora only had contact to Ms. Hemsford, who I clearly wouldn't expect to help her, and Rose. Mmmh, Rose. I never liked her too much. She is too clever behind that silent mouth of hers. A very dangerous mix.

But would she be dumb enough to disobey us? Until now, she did her tasks perfectly, almost too perfectly if you ask me.

The doors open again, interrupting my train of thoughts.

With long steps, I hurry to the pool.

I haven't thought about what I'd do with her, it's very likely to be spontaneous.

Opening the doors silently, I find Nora swimming in her long blue dress covering her whole body. She seems to own the water, she's like a part of it. The dress tries to pull her down, but she doesn't give in. With moves full of power she glides through the water. She's totally in her own world, being fully concentrated and not noticing me, which is all good and gives me time to study her.

She looks stunning, I of course wouldn't tell her or anyone else, but she does. It's not that I'm attracted to her, I'm not in any way. We're still related after all. But I can clearly see why other people would. That's probably going to become a problem later.

How does she even get the idea to swim with a dress? A smile crosses my mind, she's crazy. And also, this dress is freaking expensive, we do have the money, but still. Well, seems like Nora isn't worshipping our money too much. But Ms. Hemsford said Nora does not like dresses in general, so maybe it's just that.

I let the door close with a loud creaking , making Nora wheel around and creating little waves. She is nearly spitting out some water. Seems like she's caught off guard. Everything's going according to plan, then. I love having for once a plan working actually out.

"Hello Nora, nice to see you again.", I smile my fakest smile.

"Ar... Arian", she stutters. Yes, totally off guard.

"That's my name. You better come out of the water now.", my tone's getting grave and her face turns dark, she almost seems sad. Almost. With smooth and strong moves, she reaches for the border of the pool.

"You got it?", I ask, questioning her skills of pulling a wet dress out of a pool.

"Yes.", she states distantly, seeming different. Different to the Nora I met some hours ago. What made her change?

She actually pulls herself out of the pool, standing lost on the ground with a wet dress afterwards.

"I'm getting you a towel and something new to dress. Will you stay here or do I have to tie you up?", I ask. I indeed would have stuff to fix her here, a few carabineers and rope are stocked everywhere in this house. I was the one demanding it.

Her expressions turn blank, she seems shocked. Well, she better is.

"I'm fine, I'll wait. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't escape in this.", she makes a weak attempt to present the wet dress, but it ends in a shiver running through her body. I'd need to hurry or she'd catch a cold. Seems like not only the cameras but also the heat isn't working down here. Where is all that money when you need it?

"Okay, I'll take you by your word. You're in big trouble if you don't stand exactly there, when I return. Got it?" I ask, receiving a weak nod.

Leaving the room, I call Rose. I mean, she's responsible for Nora from now on, and I can have a chat with her afterwards about whether she helped Nora. Win-win situation.

"Bring a new dress for Nora and some towels. Take the pink one. Also prepare something warm to drink. And better hurry, I'm waiting.", with this, I hang Rose up, changing the line to Tristan.

"I found her.", I state.

"Okay, bring her to the central when she's dried up.", he demands.

"I will."

I return to the pool, just to find the spot Nora was standing being totally empty. This girl really has some nerve.

"Where the fuck are you? You're walking on very thin ice.", I warn her.

"Right now, I'm not walking at all.", a voice from behind states. I turn around, just to see her in the water again.

"Didn't we agree on this spot?", I ask, pointing at the spot she should have been standing, not hiding my angry mood at all.

"We did, indeed, but I was starting to get cold. And you wouldn't want your little lovely sister to catch a cold, would you?", she asks with an innocent smile. And there is the girl from earlier again.

"Don't you dare take the word sister into that dirty mouth of yours ever again. You better fucking hurry to leave the water or you'll have the chance to see me really angry. Your choice."

"Mmmm, let me quickly weight my options. As pleasant the last option might seem, I don't feel in the vibe to be shouted at by someone who clearly has no self-control. ", she explains simply, leaving the water finally.

I don't really have anything to say to that, with shouting at her statement, I'd just prove her right. And she knows that.

Perfectly on time, the door is opened and Rose enters, nodding to me and giving Nora an awkward smile, which she doesn't repeat. Did they already meet each other?

Rose is holding a tablet with a long pink dress and towel plus a scorching coffee. She never disappoints.

Nora's features change into shocked. Well, better don't play with me.

"I definitely won't wear this.", she declares with disgust in her voice.

"Oh, you will. There is no alternative unfortunately.", A wide smile shows on my face. I love finding out about insecurities or things people don't like to use it against them when time comes.

"You've got to be kidding me. This isn't even a piece of clothing, I could just wear it to carnival, but oh sorry, I'm too old for that, what you clearly haven't noticed yet. And what is your obsession with dresses anyways?", she asks, moving back and forth frantically, leaving a wet line on the ground.

"Just change your clothes, I expect you to hurry. And Rose, please come to me afterwards, I need to talk to you.", I tell her, causing her face to turn a shade darker. Should I count that as suspicious? I don't know, but I will have the chance to find out later.

"Oh, and before I forget it, the coffee is mine now. You did nothing to deserve it, Nora.", I say, grabbing the warm coffee and enjoying every sip of it.

"You can put the coffee wherever you want, I'm not interested anyways.", she spits, behaving like a little kid.

"I figured. You've got 10 minutes maximum. Better listen to my words this time or everything will get worse for both of you.", I warn them, exiting the room and waiting outside.